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October 2018
Talmud Study with Rabbi Kalmanofsky
The Secret Mysticism of the Talmud Generally, Talmud is the least esoteric sort of Jewish wisdom. The Sages' care mostly about often very mundane law, like property disputes and kashrut. But Talmud also has its own occult lore. This year in Wednesday night Talmud we will study the second chapter of Tractate Hagigah, which you can purchase on-line, or through our dear friends at West Side Judaica. We'll read stories of mystical rabbis, and we will supplement the Talmud's material…
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Seven Sacred Steps: Demystifying Mikvah
Join Rabbi Yael for a deep dive into the ancient ritual of mikvah. We will demystify this mysterious Jewish space by exploring traditional and contemporary, creative uses of mikvah. How can mikvah be used as a ritual for healing, or to mark the passage of time and life transitions? This class may be for you if you are curious about mikvah, or if you want to experience mikvah for the first time with a supportive community. Or, this class may…
Find out more »November 2018
RESPONSA FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
EARLY MORNING STUDY WITH RABBI KALMANOFSKY The tradition of Jewish wisdom stretches back millennia, to times and places unimaginably different from our own. Sometimes we can apply ancient wisdom to modern problems, and sometimes that's not so easy. Each month we will study modern rabbinic attempts – mostly heterodox, sometimes more traditional – to answer today's questions, in areas like medical, social, economic, and political ethics. Second TUE of the month at 8:15AM
Find out more »February 2019
Love, Sex, and Relationships: Shabbat Morning Torah Study
Is the Torah Patriarchal? If so, then What?
The Bible comes from a non-egalitarian society and is filled with accounts – some beautiful, some disturbing – about sex and gender. Please join Rabbi Amy Kalmanofsky, Bible professor from JTS, to study what Jews today do with the canon we’ve inherited.
Love, Sex, and Relationships: Shabbat Potluck Lunch
Jewish Values in Contemporary America
After services, we will break into small group discussions over lunch. Each table will address different issues regarding intimate relationships, including sources drawn from Jewish tradition and the news. High school students will have their own table for their own conversation.
April 2019
“Yes You Can!” Workshops for Jewish Living
SUN, September 23; TUE, December 4; SUN, TUE, April 16 Every mitzvah you perform can be a poetic and spiritual moment for you, your friends and family, and community. Join Rabbi Kalmanofsky, Rabbi Hammerman, and Hazzan Hirschhorn for a series of ritual workshops throughout the year to expand your repertoire of the mitzvot you feel comfortable performing at home and in synagogue. A great way to learn how to make kiddush and havdalah, wear tallit and tefillin, enrich your seder,…
Find out more »July 2019
DOROT Lunch and Learn
Bring your lunch, and come and meet DOROT’s Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP) volunteer, Lukas Baur, as he talks about his journey from Germany to the United States for a year of volunteering with DOROT. RSVP to Yael Kornfeld at 917-441-3705 or at ykornfeld@dorotusa.org
Find out more »September 2019
Ethical Wills: A Values Vault for Future Generations©
Ethical wills, sometimes called spiritual or legacy letters, are resources Jews have used for centuries to articulate and pass on deeply held values and beliefs. Historically, they were letters written by parents to children; now they often address a wider circle of friends and family, and can come in audio, video, or other creative formats. No matter the format, they contain a person’s moral legacy, including stories, life lessons, and blessings for the future. There are many reasons to make…
Find out more »September 2023
Confession, Repentance, and the High Holidays
To American Jewish ears, confession can sound so .... Catholic. And yet, in Jewish law and spirituality, the practice of confessing your sins, or vidui, is indispensable to the process of personal change. Join Rabbi Kalmanofsky to explore the Yom Kippur confession liturgy and the themes it reflects. What experiences might confession awaken in us? How can it help us make teshuva, and turn towards becoming our best selves?
Find out more »October 2023
Wednesday Night Talmud with Rabbi Kalmanofsky
Join us to study tractate Sanhedrin, chapter 4. For those who wish to use the Artscroll Talmud, this is Sanhendrin vol. 1, (or #47 in the whole set). This class is best in person -- so please come! Also available via Zoom (Meeting ID: 837 8598 8052 | Passcode: chesed)
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